We did it! We made it to Los Ebanos on Friday to see the hand-pulled ferry that connects the US with Mexico. This ferry was first started in the 1740's by the Spanish explorers, used by the Texas 
Rangers to get cattle rustlers, and during the 1920 and 1930 for smuggling booze across the border. This is the only hand-pulled ferry left in the country. Google Los Ebanos Ferry in Mission Texas. Weather was perfect (well, wasn't in the 90's yet!) so we traveled the 16 miles there. The town of Los Ebanos - oh my gosh. How poor. At first we didn't think anyone lived in this small town (population 403) but they do. Dave found a skinny horse tied up in the back of a tourist gift shop. Border Patrol was abundant here. And we didn't find out until the next day that Operation Fallen Hero was underway (see previous blog) and therefore, seemed very hightened security. A number of officers always kept their hand on their weapon. The river is about 15 feet deep while we crossed and the current was quite strong - I put my hand on the rope that the men hand pulled was so 
taught. And in the pictures you can see how the ferry is pushed downstream but the pullies and the ropes/cable keep it from totally drifting away.
Rangers to get cattle rustlers, and during the 1920 and 1930 for smuggling booze across the border. This is the only hand-pulled ferry left in the country. Google Los Ebanos Ferry in Mission Texas. Weather was perfect (well, wasn't in the 90's yet!) so we traveled the 16 miles there. The town of Los Ebanos - oh my gosh. How poor. At first we didn't think anyone lived in this small town (population 403) but they do. Dave found a skinny horse tied up in the back of a tourist gift shop. Border Patrol was abundant here. And we didn't find out until the next day that Operation Fallen Hero was underway (see previous blog) and therefore, seemed very hightened security. A number of officers always kept their hand on their weapon. The river is about 15 feet deep while we crossed and the current was quite strong - I put my hand on the rope that the men hand pulled was so 
taught. And in the pictures you can see how the ferry is pushed downstream but the pullies and the ropes/cable keep it from totally drifting away. After parking the truck we walked towards where the Border Patrol/Customs is located and saw customs officers and police on the entrance side of the ferry landing and we had to go to pay on
the right side. Price to just go look at the ferry, not use it - fifty cents. To ride it - 75 cents. How could we not ride the ferry, crossing the Rio Grande and then stepping on Mexican soil, returning back on the ferry? The ferry can only accomodate 3 cars and about 20 pedestrians. We have noticed since we have been here in McAllen that if you want to cross the border, you typically use the 'main' bridges but there is a wait 
of about an hour to cross. However, you could easily cross here, it's a four mile drive to the nearest town. It's a good thing Dave suggested we bring our passports along. The Border Patrol helicopter flew overhead, back and forth over the river, kinda spooky. Once we crossed back to the US side we had to go through customs. We think the officer was trying to trip us up - he asked/assumed we didn't cross the ferry at which point Dave spoke up and said - of course we did! We couldn't pass up this opportunity! After our passports were checked, the officer said - did you see the cactus growing out of the ebony tree by the historical marker? No - so up we went and low and behold - wow! Look at all the cactus up there! What a fun cheap day!
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